District shuffles personnel to fill void
By Jenine Clancy, Special Writer
MONROE — The Board of Education passed a resolution Wednesday night to officially approve the resignation of Superintendent Kenneth Hamilton as he leaves the district for a new chief school administrator position in Mount Vernon, New York.
Mr. Hamilton’s last day under contract will be Jul 31, and will start in New York on Aug 11.
The New York district’s Board of Trustees appointed Mr. Hamilton to the post at the end of June.
Members of the board unanimously approved the resignation albeit reluctantly.
"Well, Dr. Hamilton. I am going reluctantly vote ‘yes’ and do this out of the kindness out of my heart for you," Board Member Ken Chiarella said. "I just wanted to let you know I am going to miss you personally and you have done a great job for us and I think you have done wonderful things for our children and our district and I wish you well."
Board President Kathy Kolupanowich also praised Mr. Hamilton’s tenure.
"Though I don’t think it has been easy for you in Monroe at certain times, you’ve always been committed to excellence and you have made Monroe one of the premiere districts in the country," Ms. Kolupanowich said. "I have truly enjoyed my time working with you and though we didn’t always agree on everything, I always saw the passion you had for our children and education in general."
Mr. Hamilton said his reason for leaving had to do with changes in the state, like the superintendent salary caps.
The salary caps, adopted by the Department of Education in 2011, range from $125,000 for districts with 250 or fewer students to $175,000 for districts with 6,501 to 10,000 students.
According to Hamilton, he was making a salary of $196,000 for the 2013-2014 school year. In his new district he said will be making $250,000 a year.
"First of all I would like to thank the board, it’s been an amazing experience professionally and personally. I have tried to live by a mantra of not to play where I work or work where I play, but I have made some friendships that will last forever and I want to thank the board for that. I have also had some experiences in the district that have had such an impact on me that it will shape me for the rest of my life" Hamilton said. "I’ve made some extraordinary connections with kids, staff and board members that have been amazing. There are some career accomplishments that will shape the future of this town forever, and though this journey has become a district known for its innovation, progressive thinking and among the best in the state, and the nation, it has not been by accident…it falls on acknowledging the principals, members of staff, students and this board."
Appointed in 2009, Mr. Hamilton implemented the largest 1:1 iPad initiative on the east coast, successfully managed district reconfiguration including the opening of a new state of the art high school, developed and implemented the district’s strategic plan, co-authored Senate Bill S1701 and presented before the New Jersey State Senate to justify the need for support of this proposal for equitable state funding for the children of Monroe, according to his biography.
Under his leadership, Monroe High School was ranked one of the Best High Schools in the state, from the U.S. News and World Report. The school ranked 39, in the top 100 performing schools in the state. On a national scale, the school ranked 1,500 out of the 31,000 schools reviewed, according to his biography.
"Mr. Hamilton, I can tell you I have a lot of respect for you and wish you all the luck in Mt. Vernon, but like any of us who change positions you take the good with the bad and any mistakes that were made I hope wont be made again," Monroe Resident and former board member Mark Klein said referring to his disagreements with Hamilton in the past.
Taking Mr. Hamilton’s place will be current Applegarth Elementary School Principal Dennis Ventrello as the district’s new interim superintendent.
Mr. Ventrello’s contract starts Aug 1 and is good for one year.
Ms. Kolupanowich said his contract could be renewed after one year, or could be over with if and when they find a permanent replacement.
Mr. Ventrello, who is also currently the President on the Monroe Township Schools Administrators Association said this is only a temporary position for him.
"My intention is to step up and pitch in, that is my only intent with this and I would like to return as principal at Applegarth with your permission, as far as wrapping up my career there with the staff , students and parents. I am humbled and I am honored," Ventrello said. "I have been here many times in my 42 years of service, as far as coming to the point where we have to select a new superintendent. It is the most important decision a board of education can make. Everyone in the district should appreciate the hard work that is ahead of you."
Replacing Mr. Ventrello at Applegarth is Kevin Higgins, who currently is one of three vice principals at the high school.
"I want to thank you for your confidence," Mr. Higgins said. "I’m looking forward to helping the folks at Applegarth and keeping the ship right as we move along in this endeavor."
Mr. Higgins former position will not be filled because the board felt two vice principals at the high school would suffice.
Ms. Kolupanowich said they chose someone within the district as interim because of the short notice they had from Dr. Hamilton, who only officially resigned last week.
She said she also felt choosing Mr. Ventrello would keep the district in good shape, and wouldn’t disrupt the schools. Also, the costs of finding someone from the outside in such a short period of time would be too high.
The next steps, Ms. Kolupanowich said, is to discuss at further meetings how they wish to proceed in picking a new permanent superintendent.
She explained the board has three options: that they search themselves as a board, choose an outside service or conduct the search through the New Jersey School Board Association.
Field Service Representative for the New Jersey School Board Association Gwen Thorton was on hand to give the board perspective on the current landscape for available superintendent candidates.
"The world is a different place, the landscape has changed since the board did a search when Mr. Hamilton was elected," Ms. Thorton said. "The resultant number of retirees due to salary caps, in counties like Bergen and Monmouth have lost about 50 percent of our seated superintendents. They have gone to other states to work. It’s important as a board and as a community to understand the changing landscape. This is the most important task"
Ms. Thorton’s organization charges around $6,000 to conduct a search and has recently filled a vacancy in South Brunswick Township.
The next meeting for the Monroe Board of Education is slated for Aug 20 and a special meeting to be held on Aug 23 to further discuss goals and budget philosophies.